Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-07-16

10 Inc law OmcerS OF tne Government and was
sanctioned oy them. Action was taken under
authority conferred by the law OF 1903 In the Re
yised statutes relating to the District OF Column
sections touching the District militia and seven
OF these relate specifically to volunteer companies
section also. reads; .'rhe President shall,
point the proper of1cers to Compose at least
one troop OF cavalry one company Of artillery one
company OF Light infantry, and one company OF
GERS shall proceed by volunteer enlistment within
Their legion, TO complete their companies with the
least possible delay" 1t makes no difference what
| legion is, or that there are no grenadiers- No
| legislation Is needed under that law What we
would like and what We expect, is that Congress
supporting the National Guard, by makilg some
SPECIFIC appropriation for the militia OF the Dis
te, Just as the state legislatures do for the State
mi!itla Ihat Is ali that Is expected OF Congress-
| ana 10 That we think we are entitled"
THE RETENTION OF ARMS
"The question OF the retention OF arms Is another
| matter that seems to be misunderstood. There
was no authority OF law by which the Secretary OF
War could have granted the requests of the Ma.
| tiOnai Rifles and the Old Guard He wOuld have
| no more right to loan them arms on their bonds
than the Secretary OF the Treasury would have &c
loan money out OF the Treasury vaults. No exc.
cutive olficer or the Government can dispose OF
Government property without authority OF law
Arms issued to militia companies must be Charged
cfses In question there was nothing to charge the
arms 10, and II the requests had been granted the
whole militia fabric OF the District would have
| gone 10 pieces"
"tiow was 1t that the local companies were given
arms In the frst placer" asked The ST AR man.
| reply. "Really It was violation OF law but II
was contingency In which the authorities felt
JUSTIFIED In using discretion, / presume. There
was no regular District militia, and yet there were
sel1-suppOrting military companies in existence
which took the place OF militia, and as such or
CARNATIONS were deemed necessary the arms were
issued TO them as filling the place OF the NatiOna
Guard. There Is no such plausible excuse now
| The authorized National Guard Is now In exist.
| ton that chooses not TO join the National Guar(
Is surely not entitled to the privileges accorded
| the enlisted men,
just here q messenger entered and handed Gen
Ordway the proofs Of the first general orders o.
the District militia.
| THE FIRsr GENERAL ORDERS.
They were as follows, all being properly signed
'soe! 81. G !. MAY 10,
Having been commissioned by the President O
| the United states as Br1gadier-G General OF tn,
| militia OF the District OF Columbia, hereby as
sumo command.
| ALBERT ORDwAY,
Brigadier- General Commanding.
''0'l No osaer Gully 8,
L The following omcers having been commits
stoned oy the President OF the United States OF
the SIAN OF the militia OF the District Columbia
VIII DC ooeyed and respected accordingly: MaJO
| Henry l. Crawford, quartermaster-generA; Majo
i Joseph X. McCamm0n, Judge advocate general
| Major James NJ. Pollard, Inspector general OF rid
lpractice; Major Joshua o. stanton, suryeon-gen